St. John's to battle tough top foes to defend track and field crown

Published 4:28 pm, Tuesday, April 30, 2013

St Johns School junior Jackie Modesett jumps out to big lead in her heat of the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles at the Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

St Johns School junior Jackie Modesett jumps out to big lead in her heat of the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles at the Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

Image 2 of 6

The Nick Finnegan Invitational Track Meet was held Saturday, April 16, 2011, at The St. Johns School.
Richie Mercado varsity track coach at St. John's.
Photo Eddy Matchette

The Nick Finnegan Invitational Track Meet was held Saturday, April 16, 2011, at The St. Johns School.
Richie Mercado varsity track coach at St. John's.
Photo Eddy Matchette

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

Image 3 of 6

St. John's runner Samantha Night is favored in the 100- and 200-meters.

St. John's runner Samantha Night is favored in the 100- and 200-meters.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

Image 4 of 6

St. John's pitcher Anna Brooks-Pacha and the Mavs bring a 13-13 mark into the SPC Tournament.

St. John's pitcher Anna Brooks-Pacha and the Mavs bring a 13-13 mark into the SPC Tournament.

Photo: Eddy Matchette, Freelance

Image 5 of 6

St. Johns School's Samantha Night competes in the Girls 100 Meter Dash at the 2013 Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

St. Johns School's Samantha Night competes in the Girls 100 Meter Dash at the 2013 Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

Image 6 of 6

St. Johns School Jackie Modesett works her way to a win in the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles at the 2013 Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

St. Johns School Jackie Modesett works her way to a win in the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles at the 2013 Episcopal High School Relays. Freelance photo by Jerry Baker

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

St. John's to battle tough top foes to defend track and field crown

1 / 6

Back to Gallery

St. John's head coach Richie Mercado believes the level of competition in track and field is at an all-time high in the Southwest Preparatory Conference.

"You have coaches who have been at their schools for a while and built quality programs. Plus, the caliber of athletes has increased over the last 10 years," Mercado said. "I don't think it's ever been so strong."

Consequently, this year's SPC Track and Field Championships, coming up Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, at Episcopal's Simmons Field, could be one of the most exciting meets ever.

St. John's girls, who claimed their 20th SPC crown last year, are the favorites, but the Mavericks' edge is slim. Dallas Hockaday, Episcopal, Kinkaid, Tulsa Holland Hall are among the contenders along with much-improved Dallas Greenhill, according to Mercado.

"If things go right for us, we have a great shot to win again," Mercado said. "If we are less than perfect, there are several other teams capable of beating us. We understand that."

With depth and scoring potential in almost every event, St. John's figures to pile up the points.

The Mavericks are highly ranked in the SPC in all three relays.

The 4x100-meter relay of seniors Stephanie Guo, Jackie Modesett and Sam Night and junior Abby Avery is the pace-setter with a time of 49.48 seconds. The 4x200 relay, featuring Avery, Guo, Modesett and junior Elise Viguet holds the top spot (4:01.70). Meanwhile, the 4x800 relay of Viguet and freshmen Olivia Havel, Margaret Trautner and Francie Williams, sits in second place (9:56.33), just behind Kinkaid (9:42.37).

"Our 4x100 and 4x400 relays have the fastest times and our 4x800 relay should be in the top three," Mercado said. "But you never know what can happen."

Individually, St. John's will rely heavily on stalwarts such as co-captains Guo, Night and Modesett.

Modesett and Guo were ranked 1-2 in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Modesett and Guo also should be a factor in the high jump and triple jump, respectively.

"Jackie ran a 13.92 (in the 100 hurdles) at the Texas Relays and won for the second year in a row," Mercado said. "Jackie and Stephanie should medal in both hurdles and make top three in their jumps."

Meanwhile, Night, the Mavericks' best sprinter, is expected to make the finals in the 100 and 200.

"Sam has been running well," Mercado said. "But the 100 and 200 races are always close."

More Information

St. John's file

Back for more: St. John's has been a powerhouse in girls track and field for decades. The Mavericks are the reigning Southwest Preparatory Conference champions and have won a whopping 20 titles in the program's history. Led by seniors Stephanie Guo (100- and 300-hurdles, triple jump), Jackie Modesett (100 and 300 hurdles, high jump) and Sam Night (100 and 200), they will try to win their 21st at the SPC Spring Championships on Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, at Episcopal's Simmons Field.

Ready to surprise: St. John's boys don't have the point potential of their female track counterparts. However, junior William Mercado ranks third in the high jump. Youngsters like freshmen Joe Faraguna (3,200) and Hunter Hasley (discus) and sophomores Lee Hampton (100, 200, long jump and triple jump), Akshay Jaggi (3,200) and Andrew Jing (110 and 300 hurdles) are fast-improving.

Battle-tested: The St. John's softball team (13-13) has faced one of the area's toughest schedules. The Mavericks, who feature senior Paige Killelea and freshman Anna Brooks Pacha on the mound and a powerful hitting attack, are among the favorites to claim the SPC Division I title.

Others who will contribute to St. John's points tally are freshman Lillian Chen in the 3,200, freshman Gabby Otey in the triple jump, junior Carson Peacock in the 1,600, senior co-captain Allie Robinson in the pole vault, Trautner in the 800, sophomore Grace VanLoh in the 100 and 300 hurdles and triple jump, Viguet in the 400 and senior Briana Williams in the discus and shot put.

St. John's boys can't keep with the girls - for now. Mercado is counting on a top six showing.

"St. John's is in the running for the Athletic Directors' Cup (for the SPC's top sports program)," Mercado said. "We want to get as many points as we can and do the best job for our school."

Other individuals include junior Justin Bernard in the 110 hurdles and triple jump, freshman Hunter Hasley in the discus, sophomore Andrew Jing in the 110 and 300 hurdles, Otey in the long jump and Randall in the 300 hurdles.

Softball team expected to contend

St. John's will take a 13-13 mark into the SPC Softball Tournament this week, but don't be deceived by the Mavericks' record.

St. John's head coach Dan Muschalik believes this might be his strongest Mavs squad to date.

"Of our 13 losses, nine were to Class 5A, 4A and 3A (public) schools and most of them made the playoffs," Muschalik said. "We played teams like Cinco Ranch, Clements and Dayton. It's the toughest schedule we've ever faced."

Consequently, St. John's will be battle-tested as it prepares to take on the SPC's top contenders such as South Zone rivals Episcopal and Kinkaid as well as Fort Worth Trinity Valley and Tulsa Holland Hall from the North.

Although the Mavericks slipped to the South Zone's No. 3 seed with a recent 5-1 loss to Episcopal, Muschalik likes the way his squad is competing.

Sophomores are second baseman Rebecca Reza (.333), second baseman/designated player Tanvi Varadhachary (.389) and reserve outfielders Brooke Upchurch and Emma Wertheimer, who have kept the team motivated through their vocal support off the bench.

But Muschalik is excited about the emergence of two promising freshmen, shortstop Jessica Vlasek and pitcher/designated player Anna Brooks-Pacha. Vlasek is hitting a team-high .529 with 26 RBI, while Pacha has a .431 average with 16 RBI.

One of the reasons why St. John's could take home the trophy is pitching. The Mavericks have two quality starters in Brooks and Killelea. Pacha is 6-6 on the season with a 1.59 earned run average, erasing 144 batters in 66 innings.

"Anna Brooks is averaging about two strikeouts an inning," Muschalik said. "She's been incredible."

Killelea, the veteran, is 7-7 with a respectable 2.46 ERA. While her 68 strikeouts are lower than Pacha's, she has issued only nine walks in 71 innings.

"Paige's biggest asset is her mental toughness," Muschalik said. "I feel like I have a 1 and a 1A pitcher. It's a luxury having two girls who can throw like Anna Brooks and Paige."

St. John's last reached the SPC Division I championship game in 2010, losing to Tulsa Holland Hall. Muschalik hopes the Mavericks can get another swing at the title, especially with the SPC spring tourney in Houston this year.